Jeanne Dugas of Acadia by Cassie Deveaux Cohoon Page B

siege began.
    Louisbourg’s fortifications were in a state of disrepair, and the garrison troops were insufficient in number and no doubt low in spirits. They fought nevertheless, unaware that the New Englanders had also moved artillery on land to attack from the rear.
    A French man-of-war arrived at the end of May, bringing men and badly needed supplies, but after a fierce battle the ship was captured by the New England ships. Early in June the British fleet was at the harbour entrance. The combined land and sea attack, supported by the blockade of the harbour, lasted for almost seven weeks.
    On June 26, 1745, the French initiated surrender. Under its terms, the military garrison were permitted to march out with the honours of war and the inhabitants were to be repatriated to France.
    â€”
    When the British and their colonial forces took possession of Louisbourg, Lieutenant John (Jean-Baptiste) Bradstreet was one of the first to make a grand entry. On his release from his imprisonment in Louisbourg the previous year, he had agreed not to bear arms against the French for a specific period of time. Given the freedom to roam about the fortress, Bradstreet had realized that it was vulnerable to attack by land from the rear. He broke his promise to the French and passed this intelligence on to Governor Shirley of the colony of Massachusetts, who used it effectively.
    Lieutenant Bradstreet was rewarded with a promotion to the rank of Captain.

Chapter 12
    D espite the fact that the Dugas men had known in their hearts and minds that it was inevitable, the news of Louisbourg’s defeat came as a shock in Grand-Pré. Jeanne was surprised at their reaction. Uncle Abraham and her brothers Charles and Abraham accepted it. Joseph was angry and bitter.
    â€œThe maudit French couldn’t even send a proper warship that could fight!” he said.
    â€œI told you so!” Monsieur de la Tour responded.
    Joseph was continuing his cabotage activities as much as possible and he was away for periods of time. Jeanne was more aware of Joseph’s business dealings than other members of the family because she read his contracts for him. She also knew that his father-in-law was involved in some of her brother’s activities, and, like her sister-in-law Marguerite, hoped Le Maigre would not get Joseph involved in anything to do with the war.
    Again, Jeanne saw a shift, a kind of realignment, in the family. Although there was relief that they had left Louisbourg in time and would not be facing deportation to France, they now had to make some difficult decisions. Could they stay in Grand-Pré? If not, where would they go? What choices did they have?
    Charles, the eldest, assumed that they would all stay in Grand-Pré. “After all,” he said, “there is land here that belonged to our father and that you, Joseph and Abraham, can start farming for yourselves. You can do well.”
    â€œJeanne,” he added with a smile, “you can marry a nice Acadian boy here and then you will truly be Acadienne.” Jeanne’s fierce desire to be Acadian when she was little had long since become a family joke.
    Abraham was like Charles in temperament, and Jeanne could see him settling in Grand-Pré, but she knew this was not what Joseph wanted.
    Uncle Abraham spoke up. “Joseph, I think I know how you feel, but consider your wife and children.”
    â€œUncle, I’m not about to go and do anything foolhardy,” Joseph said. “But I’m a caboteur like my father before me and I want to continue my trade as long as I can. There must be money to be made in these circumstances. Besides, I think it’s too soon to be making big decisions. I’d like to wait and see what happens. We could consider going to Île Saint-Jean. That would be easier for me. I know, I know,” he quickly added, “I am considering that my family is safe here for now.”
    Uncle Abraham attempted to calm the